One of accused cops linked to sabungeros denies involvement — lawyer

One of the accused cops linked to the disappearances of sabungeros or cockfight enthusiasts has denied his involvement in any of the incidents, his lawyer said Wednesday.

Police Master Sergeant Joey Encarnacion issued the denial through his lawyer Bernard Vitriolo, who spoke to the media at a press conference.

"'Yung aking kliyente ay walang kinalaman sa missing sabungeros," Encarnacion said.

(My client has nothing to do with the missing sabungeros.)

The lawyer said Encarnacion was attending school at Camp Vicente Lim in Calamba, Laguna on the dates when the sabungeros allegedly went missing. 

"'Yung mga petsa na sinasabi ni Dondon Patidongan na doon nangyari 'yung pagkawala ng mga sabungero ay nasa schooling po ang aking kliyente," Vitriolo said, referring to the whistleblower and co-accused Julie Patidongan, or Alyas Totoy.

(My client was in school during the dates that Dondon Patidongan said the disappearance of the sabungeros occurred.)

"Mayroon po siyang certificate from May to November. Nasa schooling po 'yung aking client, confined sa Camp Vicente Lim sa National Forensic Training Institute. Nandoon po siya. Nag-graduate po siya roon. Meron po siyang attendance sheet. Pirmado po lahat authenticated po lahat," he added.

(He has a certificate from May to November. My client was in school, confined at Camp Vicente Lim at the National Forensic Training Institute. He was there. He graduated there. He was in the attendance sheet. Everything was signed, everything was authenticated.

Aside from this, Vitriolo also denied that Encarnacion was the owner of the fish pond where the bodies of missing sabungeros were allegedly dumped.

"Mayroon po kaming certification ng dalawang local government units—'yung Laurel at Talisay—at 'yung Department of Environment and Natural Resources," he said. 

(We have certification from two local government units—Laurel and Talisay—and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.)

"Wala siyang palaisdaan (He does not have a fish pond.) he added.

On July 14, Patidongan and the families of missing sabungeros filed a complaint-affidavit implicating 18 cops to the disappearances.

The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) announced on August 4 that it has imposed a 90-day preventive suspension on 12 involved active police officers, including Encarnacion.

The other six police officers have already been dismissed, the NAPOLCOM said.

A total of 34 cockfighting enthusiasts have been reported missing from 2021 to 2022. According to the police, the missing personalities were kidnapped in relation to alleged match fixing or cheating in the cockfighting games.

Patidongan claimed that the victims were already buried in Taal Lake, prompting authorities to later conduct an underwater search in the area.

He named businessman Atong Ang as a mastermind in the case and also linked actress Gretchen Barretto to the disappearances. Both have denied the allegations.

On August 1, multiple murder, serious illegal detention, enforced disappearance, direct bribery, and obstruction of justice were filed against Ang and others. — VDV, GMA Integrated News